The four days of the Oregon Wine Experience are always fun and exciting, but it was especially so this year, as I was part of an organized Rogue Valley Wine Country tour.

Organized by Gina Bianco, executive director for Rogue Valley Vintners, with guests from the Willamette Valley — Michele Francisco, editor of Oregon Wine Press, and Matt Talbot, wine buyer for Zupans’ Markets Macadam — we did a whirlwind tour swirling our way through nine wineries each of the days prior to OWE evening events.

“One of the best parts of my job is when I get to introduce wine buyers, sommeliers, writers and visitors from across the country to our awe-inspiring region,” said Bianco. “In addition to being captivated by its beauty, they are blown away by the diversity and quality of the wine made here, the collaboration and support among winemakers, and the variety of styles and techniques used to produce their world-class wine.”

Each winery has its own “cultivated cool,” its own essence and style; be it the terroir that speaks to what grapes will best thrive there, the winemakers’ particular preference and winemaking style, and what the terroir offers — not just the wines but also for the ambiance of the tasting room. From the rustic patio of Cliff Creek at the heart of a working farm in Sams Valley to the dramatic convergence of the Cascade and Siskiyou mountain ranges at Irvine & Roberts, each winery offered up sweeping panoramas, rows of picturesque vineyards and incredibly delicious wines.

There were so many memorable moments, spirited wine conversations and savory food pairings in our wine country tour, it’s hard to pick favorites. However, there are two that stand out for me because they were just plain fun.

Both were the windswept joy of Gator/UTV tours around vineyards. Winemaker Jean-Michel Jussiaume, who also received two Best of Shows at OWE — one for Del Rio’s 2022 Grenache Rosé and one for his own Maison Jussiaume 2019 Blanc de Blancs — took us out for our first spin. Seeing the entire expanse of Del Rio Vineyards’ 550 acres from the top of the vineyard was spectacular. A couple of days later, we were treated to a lively tour of the Irvine & Roberts area by Doug Irvine with the enduring mountains as backdrop. There’s just something rather ethereal about tooling around grapevines in an open-air cart.

“Geographically, it is a beautiful part of the state. Every valley is unique and has its own microclimate,” Matt Talbot stated about his visit to the Rogue Valley. “Traveling to different places each day provided us with a great overview of what each area brings to the table.”

Continuing, he said, “The diversity of the wine being made in the area is impressive. So many great Italian and French varietals, and all are done in exceptional and distinct styles. Yes, pinot noir is made there, and it’s very good.”

Another highlight of the tour was the delicious food we were served.

Here in Southern Oregon we have a cornucopia of local foods and produce to choose from. In Oregon, as opposed to California where there are laws restricting food service in wineries, tasting rooms here must have food available. Many have taken their offerings to the gourmet level with menus and wine pairings. From charcuterie, cheese boards and fresh salads to lunches and brunches, the food we tasted was fresh, distinctive and exceptional.

“I was particularly excited to dine at wineries with executive chefs creating unusual dishes that paired beautifully with the wines,” Michelle Francisco shared, surprised a little by the winery cuisine. “I know consumers seek out memorable wine experiences like these when choosing wineries to visit. Often, wine and food are consumed together, yet, until recently, few wineries offered much beyond a basic cheese board. Now a number curate thoughtful menus filled with abundant, locally grown produce, cheese and meats. ‘What grows together goes together’ — following this practice not only further boosts the wine concept of terroir but also keeps more dollars within the region.”

Our wine-tasting itinerary is listed below. This tour presented us with a perfect showcase of the wine and food excellence offered in the Rogue Valley.

Happy wining!

Day 1: Cliff Creek Winery, Sams Valley; Del Rio Vineyards, Gold Hill; Hummingbird Estate, Jacksonville

Day 2: Padigan Wines, Medford (lunch); Peter William Vineyard, Medford

Day 3: Long Walk Vineyard, Ashland (second breakfast); Irvine & Roberts Vineyards, Ashland (lunch); Weisinger Family Winery, Ashland

Day 4: DANCIN Vineyards, Medford (brunch)